Alcatel Space, the satellite manufacturing arm of France’s Alcatel [NYSE: ALA], has received a contract from Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat to build the HOT BIRD 7A communications satellite to replace the HOT BIRD 7 that was lost during the failed Ariane 5 launch last December. Financial terms were not disclosed.

HOT BIRD 7A’s mission has been expanded to provide additional back-up and replacement capacity at Eutelsat’s 13 degrees East orbital slot. HOT BIRD 7A will be based on Alcatel Space’s Spacebus 3000 B3 platform and will have 38 Ku-band transponders. Another 20 transponders will be available for replacement capacity for Eutelsat’s other HOT BIRD satellites.